In1885

In 1885, Mr. Clarkson purchased the Swan sash, door
and blind factory on Fall Island. The father of the present
Potsdam publisher had been the founder of that business.
After the Swan factory burned three years later, Mr. Clark-
son turned to his other ventures. The Clarkson Manufac-
turing Company was organized in 1886 for the manufac-
turing of butter tubs and firkins. This business also stood
near the present Montgomery Ward Store.
Two years later, Thomas S. Clarkson helped to or-
ganize the first electric light plant in Potsdam. From be-
ing president of the original company it was only a natural
step to being president of the reorganized Electric Light
Company in the early eighteen nineties. Many people in
Potsdam still continue to praise Mr. Clarkson for being the
father of Potsdam"s electric light "blessing."
Upon the reorganization of the Thatcher Manufactur-
ing Company into a stock company in 1889, Thomas S.
Clarkson became its president. This company was located
on Raymond Street. It was one of the few large makers of
milk bottle caps. In fact Dr. Thatcher was the inventor of
the glass milk bottle of our everyday use. On January 1,
1893, the Potsdam Milk-Sugar Company was organized for
the manufacture of butter, fancy cheese, and milk sugar.
Mr. Clarkson was made president of the company. The
building was erected on the site of the Swan factory which
had burned in 1889.
In politics Thomas S. Clarkson was always the bene-
factor. During the Civil War, he had been instrumental in
helping to raise over a million dollars in St. Lawrence Coun-
ty for the cause of the Union. When improvements were
needed in the county, Mr. Clarkson was more than willing
to acquire public office. He was several times a member
of the village Board of Trustees. In 1886 he helped to in-
stall Potsdam's original sewerage system.
Although Thomas S. Clarkson always felt that work
was a better gift to the poor than charity, he knew that
there are always unemployables in every community.
Hence he chose to be a member of the building committee

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In 1885, Mr. Clarkson purchased the Swan sash, door
and blind factory on Fall Island. The father of the present
Potsdam publisher had been the founder of that business.
After the Swan factory burned three years later, Mr. Clark-
son turned to his other ventures. The Clarkson Manufac-
turing Company was organized in 1886 for the manufac-
turing of butter tubs and firkins. This business also stood
near the present Montgomery Ward Store.
Two years later, Thomas S. Clarkson helped to or-
ganize the first electric light plant in Potsdam. From be-
ing president of the original company it was only a natural
step to being president of the reorganized Electric Light
Company in the early eighteen nineties. Many people in
Potsdam still continue to praise Mr. Clarkson for being the
father of Potsdam"s electric light "blessing."
Upon the reorganization of the Thatcher Manufactur-
ing Company into a stock company in 1889, Thomas S.
Clarkson became its president. This company was located
on Raymond Street. It was one of the few large makers of
milk bottle caps. In fact Dr. Thatcher was the inventor of
the glass milk bottle of our everyday use. On January 1,
1893, the Potsdam Milk-Sugar Company was organized for
the manufacture of butter, fancy cheese, and milk sugar.
Mr. Clarkson was made president of the company. The
building was erected on the site of the Swan factory which
had burned in 1889.
In politics Thomas S. Clarkson was always the bene-
factor. During the Civil War, he had been instrumental in
helping to raise over a million dollars in St. Lawrence Coun-
ty for the cause of the Union. When improvements were
needed in the county, Mr. Clarkson was more than willing
to acquire public office. He was several times a member
of the village Board of Trustees. In 1886 he helped to in-
stall Potsdam's original sewerage system.
Although Thomas S. Clarkson always felt that work
was a better gift to the poor than charity, he knew that
there are always unemployables in every community.
Hence he chose to be a member of the building committee